FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The Defense Logistics Agency director highlighted the agency’s dedication to modernization and agility during a visit by a senior military logistics leader.
DLA hosted the Worldwide Logistics Symposium at its McNamara Headquarters Complex Sept. 15-16. Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey delivered the keynote address on the event’s second day.
Duffey received an overview of the agency from DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, who was joined by DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn, Chief Information Officer Adarryl Roberts, Chief Financial Officer Susan Goodyear, Director of Logistics Operations Air Force Maj. Gen. David Sanford and Director of Acquisition Matthew Beebe.
The briefing highlighted the agency’s dedication to its role as a combat support agency and showed how DLA is embracing modernization, automation, data and artificial intelligence.
The briefing explained DLA’s relationships within the War Department, the military services, the combatant commands, the industrial base and whole-of-government partners, as well as the agency’s role as the manager for the National Defense Stockpile.
Simerly also discussed the agency’s strategic plan DLA Transforms: A Call to Action, and highlighted how its transformation imperatives of people, precision, posture and partnerships are aligned with the Pentagon’s warrior ethos.
“Our agency is 98% civilian, and 43% are veterans,” Simerly said. “We have to ensure we are all aware of and attuned to the changing character of warfare.”
Duffey asked how DLA manages its supply chains and industry partners because Acquisition and Sustainment is always looking for successful examples of those relationships.
Simerly said the agency hosted the Set the Theater, Set the Globe summit in April that highlighted how DLA collaborates with the Joint Forces to foster partnerships and plan for contested logistics environments. The next event will be in March 2026. The agency is also participating in more global exercises.
“DLA isn’t designed to be a warfighting headquarters, but things are shifting that way,” Simerly said.
The agency is evaluating its core missions with whole-of-government partners to identify activities that may not benefit the warfighter, he added, and DLA is looking at ways to strengthen supply chains.
Simerly discussed the agency’s strategic initiatives to modernize its business operations including the warehouse management system and a digital strategy that allows for continuous digital transformation. Roberts also highlighted the DLA Analytics Center of Excellence, which offers analytical services including data mining, artificial intelligence, modeling and simulation, and war game support.
“I appreciate the chance to get a snapshot of the great work you’re doing,” Duffey said. “I want to leverage success stories as we digitize our mission, and it makes sense that you’d be on the leading edge of that.”
The Worldwide Logistics Symposium gives participants an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the concerns the nation’s allies and strategic partners face in their operational environments.
The two-day event included speakers and guests throughout the DOW and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The theme for this year’s symposium was, “Resourcing Logistics: Increasing lethality, building deterrence, and buying down risk.”